A study on localized pancreatic cancer investigated whether fragmented care, where patients receive systemic therapy at a different facility than their surgery, affected survival. Among over 11,000 patients, those treated in Commission on Cancer accredited facilities were more likely to receive neoadjuvant therapy, but overall survival didn’t significantly differ compared to non-fragmented care or fragmented […]
Author: STITCHES Newsletter
Preoperative Smoking Cessation Interventions: Impact and Variability
A systematic review analyzed nine articles from 1998 to 2019 to evaluate pre-hospital smoking cessation interventions’ impact on smoking rates for surgery patients. These interventions included methods like nicotine replacement therapy, e-cigarettes, counseling, and medications. Among 1,762 patients in the studies, six reported smoking status on the day of surgery, with four studies showing differences […]
Impact of COVID-19 on Female Surgeons: New Normal Work Environment
A survey of 139 female surgeons conducted in 2021 explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on their lives. The study revealed that 71.2% of respondents felt the pandemic worsened their clinical practice, with 30.9% experiencing a decrease in income. Many faced challenges, including caring for children, elderly family members, and increased household chores. These […]
Immediate Release of Electronic Health Information: Clinician and Patient Perceptions
The 21st Century Cures Act mandates the immediate release of electronic health information (EHI) to patients. Researchers surveyed 33 clinicians and 30 patients, conducting interviews with a subset of 8 clinicians and 12 patients to explore their perceptions of this immediate EHI release. Ten themes emerged, revealing differences in how clinicians and patients perceive patient […]
Operative Management of Emergency General Surgery Conditions Incurs Higher Long-term Costs
Research found that for emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions, operative management resulted in higher in-hospital costs compared to non-operative approaches. However, over the long term, only patients with hepatopancreaticobiliary conditions experienced cost equivalence between operative and non-operative management at 90 and 180 days. For other EGS conditions, operative management maintained higher inpatient costs that slightly […]
Innovative Smartphone App Enhances Liver Surgery Risk Assessment
Researchers have created a novel preoperative model to predict posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF B+C) using a combination of the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio (APRI) and albumin-bilirubin grade (ALBI). This APRI+ALBI-based multivariable model (MVM) demonstrated an impressive predictive accuracy with an AUC of 0.77. It also proved to be just as effective as more expensive […]
Endoscopic Resection Proves Effective for Giant Esophageal Lesions
Researchers examined the feasibility and safety of endoscopic resection (ER) for giant esophageal subepithelial lesions (G-SELs) in a large study. They achieved a remarkable 93.3% en bloc resection rate with a low recurrence rate. Some patients experienced adverse events (9.3% intraoperatively and 17.3% postoperatively). A predictive nomogram model was developed, indicating that age, tumor size, […]
Sex-Related Bias in Faculty Evaluation of Surgical Residents
This study delves into the impact of the attending surgeon’s and surgical resident’s gender on evaluations in the operating room. Female attending surgeons rated female residents lower in terms of autonomy compared to their male counterparts. However, male attendings only showed a significant difference in autonomy ratings for female residents in highly complex cases. These […]
Enhanced Recovery Protocols Improve Short-Term Outcomes in Esophagectomy: Evidence from India
Esophageal cancer surgery carries significant risks, especially in low and middle-income countries. This study investigated the impact of enhanced recovery protocols (ERP) in patients undergoing esophagectomy in India. Despite ERP patients having a higher predicted risk of complications, they experienced significantly lower 30-day morbidity and shorter hospital stays compared to those receiving standard pre-protocol care. […]
Research Residents Improve Student Perceptions of Surgery Clerkship
The surgical clerkship is a pivotal part of medical education, influencing students’ views on surgery. A program at one institution enlisted research residents as junior clerkship coordinators and educators. Student feedback before and after implementing this program showed no change in overall course perception. However, students noted improved clarity in written clerkship materials and found […]